The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Corporal Joseph B. Garretson (MCSN: 434722), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as an Intelligence Scout and Rifle Platoon Leader of Headquarters Company, First Battalion, Twenty-first Marines, THIRD Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, on 25 February 1945. With his platoon pinned down by withering automatic weapons fire, Corporal Garretson immediately reconnoitered his zone of action and personally located the hostile position. Manning a flame thrower, he began to move forward to liquidate this position and, although wounded and no longer able to carry the flame thrower, daringly continued to advance in the face of constant enemy fire. Unarmed except for a knife, he cautiously crawled into the pillbox and succeeded in killing the Japanese machine gun crew. Returning to his platoon, he then quickly reorganized his men to continue the attack before he was evacuated. His outstanding courage, fortitude and devotion to the completion of his mission were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.